Hosted by Fashion Blawger, Petite Fashion Challenge #22: Cute Cold Weather Shopping Clothes has us styling an outfit when the weather outside is frightful, but indoor shopping is warm and delightful. Please keep in mind that you should prepare for the cold without looking like Joey from Friends when he wore all of Chandler's clothes.

I tackled this challenge from two sides. First, I wanted the outfit to be a reflection of the holiday season. Second, each item was also chosen for its practicality.

Part I: The Look

I first saw the green plaid with red turtleneck combination on Blair and loved how festive it looked. Then when Khatu wore it, I told myself that I must re-create it for this holiday season. Turns out, there's no better time than for this challenge.

I think this colorful combination would contrast nicely against white bottoms. White jeans were my first choice and a white wool mini skirt was a close second. Since I own neither, I made do with what I had and wore a white cotton skirt.

Part II: The Logistics

Turtleneck + tights: Friends who have gone to sales without dressing rooms (such as Barney's Warehouse sale or Running of the Brides @ Filene's Basement) have all shared stories that wearing a tank top with leggings is the way to go. Both pieces are form-fitting and act like a second layer of skin, so it's easy to slip on clothes to try on while still able to gauge fit. Although those were more extreme shopping conditions, I wouldn't hesitate to adopt the same philosophy when I'm out shopping regularly. The tank top with leggings equivalent for winter is a turtleneck and tights. Chances are, most clothes I try on won't require the removal of this base layer, so I can stay warm and be my usual lazy self (no need to constantly remove and put on layers in the dressing room).

Shirt: An extra layer for warmth that I could possibly do without, or swapped for a sweater.

Flats: Comfortable flat shoes are a must for walking and standing on my feet for extended periods of time.

Coat: To reduce the bulkiness a bit, I chose a short coat over a long coat. It's easier to maneuver around in and also not as heavy to carry if I decide to take it off indoors.

Bag:: Roomy enough to store potential cold weather accessories (ie: hat, scarves, gloves) and with long handles so it can be worn over the shoulder to free up both hands to better peruse items.